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Ean Falcor

Captain Ean Falcor stands at an imposing six foot four, with a lean build, fair skin, and long light brown. His cloths are dusty, but his smile bright.

0 · 1,014 views · located in The Cobalt Glaive

a character in “The Multiverse”, as played by Fishbucket

Description

A Hero Comes

Ean Stands about six foot four, with a lean build and fair skin. his hair is long and light brown, left wild and untamed like the man himself.

Ean is a calm and cool headed individual, ever seeking peaceful resolution to his problems. His ship, Cobalt Glaive, was designed and built by him over a course of several decades, the project stemming from a dream of better days. It is crewed by all manner of individuals, from all sorts of species and every kind of past. But the one thing they have in common is that when they were lost, broken, and abandoned, with no hope for themselves, and no one else hoping for them. When everyone, including themselves had given upon on them, he gave them a place to belong. He has been called a fool for putting his life in danger to safe those all others deem beyond saving, but it is his nature to protect those who are without protection.

Those of his crewmates who have been with him the longest share the story with all the others. Before Ean Falcor was the Captain of the Cobalt Glaive, he was a soldier, a hero on a planet where magic and technology where used together, interchangably and side by side. Raised in a military family, he joined at a young age, rising swiftly through the ranks until he had become the leader of his own unit. It was on a fateful mission quelling rebellion that him and his soldiers were pinned and under heavy fire, where he discovered his gift.

To save his soldiers, Ean unleashed a powerful psychic assault that ripped the engagement zone to dust. When they were extracted, it was not from the heavily defended compound they had went to. They were pulled out of a crater the size of a star ship. Immediately following that event, Ean was taken and trained to use his powers, to find their limits. The military quickly learned that they not only had a powerful psychic force at their disposal, but his Psionic potential was so great that with proper focusing, he could be used to literally rip worlds asunder. Needless to say, the government wanted this capability ready as soon as possible.
And so the greatest scientist of that world was assigned to find the means to enhance and best refine Ean's abilities. Her name was Docter Loraine Valios, and it was love at first sight. They married a year later, and had a daughter named Emily. Together, with Loraines guidance, Ean Falcor became the hero known as Vanguard, who's psychic abilities were used to defeat entire enemy armies without harming a single soul. Massive battle ships, legions of soldiers, Ean Falcor was able to obliterate their weapons entirely without causing harm to a single living soul. Such was the extent of his power that the government even considered engaging an assault against Holy Terra, to unseat the Imperium and take over the galaxy for themselves.
The problem with that plan would come from Ean himself, for though his power was great, his conscience was greater. Ean refused to use his powers to harm others, regardless of where they were from, and what they were like. "I am not god, It is not my right to judge who may live or die, and who may rule whom." Were the words he lived by. Begrudgingly, the government accepted his decision, and decided to drop the matter entirely. Others however... did not.

Sol Enterprises, one of the largest megacorporations in the galaxy, learned of Ean's abilities, and the CEO decided that his power should be used for the betterment of mankind, through the company of course. To this end, and to convince Ean to work for him, Arcus Sol set to have Loraine and Emily kidnapped. Ean was at work aboard a navy vessel when he received the call.

During the attempted kidnapping, Loraine and Emily fought back, and the criminals killed them. Ean's Wrath was like the inferno of a super nova, washing over the world in a terrible storm of energy so great that it was felt from one end of the galaxy to the other. That fire drove Ean from his home with a singular goal, to punish those who had taken his family.

News of Ean becomes scarce after this time, mere rumors and whisperings of his doings. The most reliable lead on his whereabouts came on the day that Arcus Sol vanished without a trace. He next resurfaces, years later, at a bar in Misrana.

Ean Falcor was driven to find solace in drink, the haze of inebriation being the best medicine for his pain. Whatever happened in the days of his disappearance, it has had an impact on his life, for Ean has since never used his psychic powers, not even in the most dire of situations. The Cobalt Glaive was built by hand, more often than not by Ean himself, who knows the ship better than anyone else in the world. His crew, his new family, is his entire world.

Woe to the fool who brings them harm.

The Captain doesn't have much in the means of personal equipment. His most common attire is a triweave carbon nanotube jacket, most notable for it's supple leather like feel and look, and it's ability to stop bullets smaller than a .50 calibur round. Aside from that he uses an array of hand made gadgets and gizmos, though his most common weapon is his Charge Pistol, that can launch an Ion "bullet" by gathering and charging particles from the immediate surrounding. Depending on the charge, this weapon can cause damage ranging from a stunning kinetic impact, to an incinerating plasma burn.

His Charge pistol also can be converted into a plasma torch "blade", by twisting an opening the barrel, the firing ports are allowed to release a continous stream of energy, ionizing and igniting the air they come in contact with. Holding down the trigger increases the charge, further increasing the output and extending the "blade" of super heated plasma. Ean jokingly refers to this particular function of his weapon as it's "Flaming Sword of Awesomeness".

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Perhaps the biggest asset in Ean's arsenal is his Cobalt Glaive, the ship is about 300 meters in length and built from a skeleton of ultracompressed carbon mineral two times as durable as diamond, covered with a titanium carbonite alloy plating.

The Cobalt Glaive Not only serves as the ship of the Starhawks, but is also their home. It is armed with all manner of offensive and defensive weaponry and systems, including missiles, Gauss Cannons, and and extremely powerful fore mounted plasma Lance. Numerous Manned and Remote turrets operate from multiple angles. In addition to this, A hanger deck contains room for no less than three single pilot Fighter craft, which often double as scouting vessels or drop ships.

Aside from weaponry, the Cobalt Glaive also houses a fabrication system that allows it to construct "Pop Blocks", Self erecting structures that can be dropped from orbit into a location. The Prefabricated structures are packed into specialized drop pods that are then released from the primary mag launchers located in the same section as the fabrication system. The drop pods break apart upon impact with a suitable surface, activating the the pop block, which then rapidly assembles the structure from the fabrication pieces. This system can incorporate any number of designs, allowing that the designed structure can be broken down into a set number of parts. This capability allows the Cobalt Glaive to directly insert mining drills, shelters, security barriers and numerous other sorts of equipment directly to a planets surface, making her exceedingly adept in jobs requiring rapid fortification.

With as much as is known about Ean's vessel however, there is much about the Cobalt Glaive that isn't known, as her Captain is always experimenting with new combinations of gadgets and gizmos.

So begins...

Ean Falcor's Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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The Cobalt Glaive came into the atmosphere following the designated travel lanes it was sent by the Control tower of the space port. Captain Ean Falcor was in his personal quarters, finishing up a journal entry for the prior cycle. He would be needed on the bridge soon enough but he wasn't worried about it, he knew his crew would get them down safely.

So in the meantime he finished the journal, and believing he had a few minutes to himself, decided to open up a bottle of scotch. He also had a bottle of a well aged Margaux, but he wanted to hold onto that until he had gotten him and his crew some new business. "Hopefully something with a little more pay and a little less danger, heh heh." The captain said, pouring himself a glass of the scotch.

As the ship descended through the lanes it shifted out of it's travel mode, finding greater stability and control in the combat mode. The first mate made it a point to keep the weapons systems powered off however. "Keep it cool gents, this planets got a history of sour conflicts over the years, and they're none to keen on threats or the like." He said, sighing as the pilots eased them ever further into the final landing procedures.

It was during this process that the Captain finished his glass, corked the bottle, and made it onto the bridge. He was setting about to his seat when the First mate came up to him. "A fine day for it, aye captain?"

"Yes, a fine day it is. I'll be sorry to see you go mate." The Captain Responded, shaking the first mates hand.

"All things come to an end, sir. But don't think of it as such. Think of it as an opportunity to find yourself a proper first mate, rather than just hiring on some passenger." The old man said, before turning back to watch the crew at work.

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Hmm...well this is peculiar...

From the roof of the control tower stood a man watching the traffic above him. He knew he didn't belong there, but he also knew no one else could see him either. What the uptight officials didn't know wouldn't hurt them. Besides, he had the best view out of anyone. There wasn't a cloud in the sky at the Wing City Spaceport and the late afternoon sun illuminated every passing ship in an orange-like glow. The air traffic moved at it's standard moderated pace, keeping a rhythm that the man could follow easily. Though, this man could find a rhythm in just about anything.

The urban sprawl, the flying ships...it all painted the picture similar to that of a futuristic utopia. And yet, the man was the odd piece out. His clothes looked loose and rugged, as if they have been beaten by the weather time and time again. His face still had that rugged look complete with a five o' clock shadow and a small, smug smile. Had his hair not been tied back in that ponytail he wore, his hair would fall messily around him. In a technology-advanced world, he was a simple man with a simple goal.

What had caught his eye was a ship unlike the ones he had seen. While he had grown accustomed to the variety of designs, this one was especially unique. For one, it's wing design was versatile for many scenarios, be they speed, stability, or combat. Another was the fact that they glowed an electric blue and gleamed against the dying sunlight. He could feel the wins shifting around him...telling him something...

"Hmm...you think?" the man said out loud, apparently to no one in particular. "Well, then I'd say it's time for a game."

And he hopped off the Control Tower, disappearing with a dark flash.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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The Crew's expert handling of the Glaive meant that the landing was efficient, expedient, and smooth. In a matter of minutes the non essential crew were heading out onto shore leave, while the rest were setting about preparing the ship for her next voyage.

Her captain and first mate were walking side by side along through the standard procedure's on their way into the city proper. As they left the space port's entry behind them, they turned to one another. Ean sighed and shook his first mates hand one last time, clapping him on the shoulder. "May the winds ever fill your sails." He said

"May the sun ever guide your way." The old man replied. He then climbed into a cab and departed, his travels on board the Cobalt Glaive at an end.

As Ean stood there, thinking back on past memories and trips, and pondering how he was going to find a new first mate, a shift in the breeze caused him to look up. For whatever reason, he had a sudden sense of destiny. He could not put his finger on it, but his very soul felt that the weave of fate had shifted, and that a new path had suddenly opened. He smiled at his train of thought. "Ah, the fun never ends, and the journey never gets tiring. Very well, let's see whats in store along the path less traveled." He said aloud to himself, before he started calling for a cab himself.

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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"Excuse me, can I interest you in a game of Mahjong?"

To the space captain's left sat a man at a table. In comparison with the scenery around him, this man looked fairly simple. The worn blue kimono he wore showcased his oriental style and nomadic tendencies. His wooden sandals on his feet were criss-crossed in the chair he sat in. His black hair was tied messily back into a ponytail behind him, strands of which fell around his face, which looked about as rugged as any other part of him. The five o' clock eclipsed a mouth that seemed to be petrified into an easy grin. His fingers rested on the table, laced together and folded in front of him. That and the strand of wheat caught between his teeth would tell the space captain quite a bit about this figure.

Calm. Collected. Easy-going. That much was for sure.

"I promise I won't take up much of your time," he continued, holding his hand out and gesturing to the tiles presented in front of him, "It's an easy game to learn."

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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"Oh?" Ean looked over at the rugged man sitting at a table. The Captain was not sure how, when, or why he was there, but he cared little about that. Hearing an offer to play one of his favorite games, especially after so long not seeing anyone else who played, he was excited and quickly took up the offer.

"I accept, on the condition that you take back your promise not to waste my time. I need a good excuse to procrastinate." The captain winked at his newfound friend.

As he took his seat across from the relaxed individual, he reached out his hand to greet the stranger. "Ean, Ean Falcor, at your service. Are you a traveler? I don't don't want to assume, but you look the sort."

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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"Akio Hanatori," the man replied warmly as he shook Ean's hand and proceeded to prepare the tiles. He dealt the captain and himself thirteen tiles as he answered his question.

"There is a slight difference between what I am and what you believe that I am, though the two are very similar. A traveler is one with a destination in mind, someone who controls their own journey. I am a wanderer. I do not have a destination in mind. Rather, I let destiny guide me. And like the tiles we have in our hands, I play with what I've been dealt with.

The tiles were set up. Akio was looking at the tiles in front of him. As it would turn out, Akio had a brilliant poker face. It would be easy to hide the Chow he had been graciously received upon beginning the game. He held out his hand expectantly.

"It would be my privilege to let the guest draw the first tile," he added politely, gesturing towards the wall built in between them, consisting of the remaining 118 tiles.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor
  1. I am sorry, but though I like it much, I am only novice Mahjong. I sometimes not know well how play.

    by Fishbucket
  2. It's alright. I know almost nothing about it other than through my extensive research. Should be fun.

    by NeverEndingFlip
  3. If you draw Mahjong right off the bat, that's actually an instant win. It's kind of like rummy, where you draw and discard strategically to try to get four sets and a pair.

    by LawOfTheLand

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Ean Falcor smiled, and that smile would remain on his face for the rest of the game. His poker face wasn't exceptional, but he was good about always smiling, and hiding what it was he smiled about.

That said, when he graciously slipped forward and drew the first tile, his smile slipped completely from his expression. He had hoped to play a long game that would last clear until sunset, and it would be just his luck that his first draw grants him a complete Mahjong. With a grimace, he sighs and discards a Seventh Crak.

"Akio Hanatori, The Wanderer. It's a good name, and a grand way of life. To go where the winds take you, wherever that may be. I myself enjoy a bit more leeway, for while I happily follow where destiny takes me, there are times when I must refute it. For there are some rules a man must honor, even if his heart wishes otherwise."

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Akio nodded and picked up a tile, "The principles and values of an individual are never to be questioned. From the simplicity of a game of Mahjong to the more important tasks life demands of us. These rules have their own place in the world, keeping communities stable and sacred and setting our progression forward."

"There is a balance to be maintained between the two, between what we need and what we want. Between when the rules should be followed and when they should be broken. The trick is determining when we must do one or the other." he closed his eyes and held out his palm. "Like when we draw Heaven's Blessing, deciding to either keep play going out of spirit or passion for the game or to play by the rules and end the game where it should have long ago."

He was talking about the instant Mahjong Ean Falcor had drawn and he opened his eyes to give the captain a knowing stare, one that cut deep, "What is your next move?"

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Ean Falcor raised an Eyebrow at Akio, his smile quirking up at one end. He then drew from the wall the very same token he had just discarded, and revealed his Mahjong.

"And yet there are times when we find our journeys end and are not yet ready for it, until the wisdom of another brings us peace with it's end. Though we may never know if our decision is right or wrong, we must live with it, and all the consequences that come of it. Such is life, no?"

Ean then leaned back and studied Akio with a knowing eye of his own. "You did not just chance upon me with a game in hopes that I would play with you. You are seeking something of me, but you have yet to ask of it. As I have not prolonged our game for my own selfish enjoyment, I ask that you speak plainly what you would have of me."

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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And so principle takes over desire...

"Interesting," Akio scratched his stubbled chin and examined the tiles in front of Ean, "How often the impossible seems to happen." As quickly as he had set up the wall, he began to dismantle it, tiles seeming to fly across the table as he moved so precisely, stacking up the tiles in his box perfectly as he continued to talk.

"It is true that this meeting of Mahjong lovers is not by coincidence," he spoke. "I saw you flying in on your ship not terribly long ago and the winds called out to me. Much like the rules you honor, I have rules of my own I must honor. And that is to answer the call of the wind when it sounds."

The tiles were packed neatly into a wooden box that was a little worn for wear and set it down. "This call has asked me to accompany you on your journey...wherever it may take you. It tells me that you are in need of a first mate, a trusted and loyal individual to stand by your side."

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Ean raised an eyebrow as Akio explained himself, standing up as the man finished. He was silent for awhile, his arms crossed and his chin tucked against his chest he thought. He closed his eyes and pondered and would stay that way for no less than a couple of minutes before responding.

"Aye, I'm in need of a first mate, and it certainly needs to be someone that can be both trusted and who is loyal. But trust is not given, it is earned, and loyalty is not presented, it is forged. I will accept your company, Akio Hanatori, for while we both may have different words for it, we both no doubt believe this to be fates design. But what you may become on this journey can only be decided along the way, be that first mate or otherwise."

Ean then sighed and seemed to relax. "Having said that, I cannot express how glad I am to be having someone at my side to help with all the logistics that need to be set. First things first, if your going to be my first mate, I'll have you accompany me into the city proper. I've goods to deliver, service to sell, and a whole mess of other things that need attending."

With that the captain of the Glaive turned and began to depart, his smile brighter than ever knowing that things had once again turned out to his favor. He may have lost his original first mate, but with this Akio he very well have found his next.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Ean walked through the business district surveying the area with a worried eye. It looked mostly fine, but there was evidence like a bomb or several had gone off in the area. He turned to Akio and asked "Jaysus what happened here? It looks like it's been used as a warzone."

Captain Ean Falcor was there, of course, to find a patron to hire his ship and himself out to. He had been hoping to find a decent well meaning business or individual that would not mind having a cheaper alternative to corporate controlled goods transport, but to be frank any job that was being offered would do. He was not picky, and his people needed the money.

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Akio lowered his head, closed his eyes, and stopped in his tracks. He took a deep breath and appeared to concentrate...almost in a similar motion like that to meditation. If Ean listened very closely, he would detect a sense of vague whispering surrounding the two of them, gentle as the slight breeze.

And then the Wanderer's eyes snapped open, "A battle. A destructive battle between many powerful races and warriors and legions alike. Some for the sake of pride, others for the sake of dominion. But as violent and explosive as this battle was, it accomplished nothing. The loss was great, but the impact was minimal. And as such, the battle is a loss for everybody."

He had kept his gaze to the floor...eyes focused on the charred pavement that resided there. Now, his gaze flicked up, catching Ean's staring back at him. His smile returned, as easy as ever.

"I have voices in my head," Akio responded nonchalantly, "Voices that tell me information I seek, information about the past, present, or the future. Unless of course it impacts me directly. Then I am blind."

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Ean smirked and said "Oh neat, my new first mate is an on site almanac." He chuckled at that, and continued along the road.

"Now, what were looking for is small businesses, companies that are just starting out and such often need a way of hiring people for various tasks. Jewelers will pay good credits for direct access to gems and minerals, cutting out the middle man and allowing them to undercut their competitors in a way they hadn't been able to before. That is what we provide, a full on work force capable of performing many tasks usually handled by corporations that charge through the nose." Ean Explained all this to Akio as they continued down the district lanes. "Now if we can't find that, we might also find work as mercenaries, though I'd much prefer avoiding that. It's the captains job to keep his crew safe, and that's hard to do when the job entails putting their lives on the line. But even so, if it comes to it, it's important to make sure prospective employers understand our capabilities."

"In total, The Cobalt Glaive has run almost seven dozen operations of a military bent, and we've been successful at each and every one of them. It's always good to mention that we're especially skilled and protecting assets and evacuating refugees, cuz most military groups charge more for that, and we can charge far less, which alot of people jump at the chance for."

"Now if I were to have my way, we'd get chartered as a colonizing ship and take a bunch of hopeful new worlders to a not yet colonized planet and help them set up everything they need to live a new life. It's generally an easy job, pays well, and more often than not the new colonists are so happy with us, they'll send us away with gifts a plenty."

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Akio's lip curled up in contemplative thought. "I see," he said as he viewed the marketplace around him. "This is a job based upon opportunity. Opportunity for these small businesses turn into opportunities for ourselves."

Akio knew about opportunity. He had grown up around a cavalcade of individuals taking their opportunity and propelling themselves to bigger and better things. His family was included in that cast. But an important lesson he picked up along the way was that one's opportunity was another's misfortune. And sometimes, that was a good thing. But sometimes...

Sometimes fate found a way to balance the spectrum once again. And that would lead to many disaster-filled moments in his life.

"But these opportunities we are taking are hurting the 'middle man', so to speak," Akio pondered, "I would imagine that would make a lot of enemies for you to deal with. You challenge a lot of power. So how is it that you are successful on every mission?"

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Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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"Ahh, Our success is thanks to the one fail proof trump card that humanity has always had. No other race can take it from us, and it is often forgotten by those who think that having everything will ensure their own victory." Ean winked at Akio, although he failed to answer the question itself.

He continued to walk along the district way, talking to people he passed by, being cordial and friendly as he sought out work for him and his crew.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Jinhai slowly spread across Terra as the Way gate in wing city grew larger and more populated. Their quiet presence rapidly became a feature of the presence of imperial guard as they followed in suit. Myrkul's Vein could move parts that belong to psi-seeds easily but disconnected matter still impractical in volume. Their business here related in locating material transport that wasn't owned by a potential threat to the Emperor of Mankind. Many corporations here seen by Jinhai as heretics that do not serve the Emperor.

Amidst dusty footfalls of two faceless men in matte leather robes their awareness spread across the quivering pull within the dark that meant the presence of Umbralkind. All other concerns diminished their bodies torqued to change direction dust that made them literally bent to a new direction. Awareness resonating with the wandering murk they hummed into the dark as they approached the two men.

They stopped a few meters away one commenting to the other his eyes on Akio, "No concern at this time, Jinhai. It does not appear to be Umbralkind."

The other didn't turn but stared at Aklo then to Ean, "Agreed, Jinhai, the task locating transport is foremost. Zhou is used on the Wayfringe. We cannot yet build another."

They hadn't yet been taught the virtue of subtlety instead talking to each other openly for the benefit of humankind.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Draco of the Shadows Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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"Hold still," Akio said calmly as the being presented itself to the two of them, appearing to analyze them. The Wanderer was quick to return the favor. The features on the outside were vague and about as mysterious as a figure could get, but Akio could see past that. He concentrated on the shadow it left behind in the late afternoon sun, closed his eyes, and listened to the voices.

The two of them had just decided Akio and Ean weren't a threat by the time Akio discsovered they were the same individual and communicated that way...for reasons relatively unknown. "It's name is Jinhai. And he's looking for a job you're trying to obtain. That is the opportunity you seek."

Trouble...

The voices from the Shadows called out to him again...this time urgently. A foreshadowing of the future, Akio realized. When the Shadows took it into their own hands to channel into Akio versus the opposite...it didn't mean good things were coming.

"I'll let you discuss things with Jinhai," Akio whispered to Ean, "But I fear there may be conflict soon. Not with Jinhai, but with another. I'm going to locate and try to defuse the conflict before it even begins."

With that, Akio stepped away from Ean, putting his full focus into the Shadows around them, utilizing them as a network in which he could travel through. His mind wasn't even present in the real world and if someone were to begin speaking to him right now, he wouldn't even know it. He kept his focus towards the premonition...specifically where it would begin. Like Hansel and Gretel, he would follow the bread crumbs to the point of origin.

A minute passed. Akio began to notice a fluctuation of dark pulsating energy within an individual. His mind remained free of shadowed thoughts, but the aura of sinister intent circled around him mind...almost as if it were waiting for a command. Peculiar... Akio thought as he continued onward past the short, burly man selling crops grown just outside Wing City. Not ten seconds went by and Akio found another, a young woman in her mid-twenties using her seduction tactics to earn her own way. But the swirling vortex of dark energy surrounded her, just like it did the first man he saw. Her mind remained clear of shadowed intentions as well, giving no sign of a plotted action.

Wait! Akio did a double take towards that spot of energy as the lady used her tactics to touch another man...and saw the dark energy transfer from her finger into the man's shoulder and begin to spread.

It was like a virus, he realized in that moment.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Draco of the Shadows Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Ean turned to look at Akio as he took a step away, then nodded and turned back to Jinhai. "Gentlemen. As my associate just so handily informed, I am the captain of a large vessel capable of quite literally any task you could think to name. As I understand it, your in need of such a vessel to perform a job. Well look no further my friends, for The Cobalt Glaive is the answer to all your concerns."

In the back of his mind Ean was bothered by Akio's words, his hands slipped to his waist where they would remain, one resting on the pistol holster set at his right hip. The hair on the back of his neck was standing on end, and had been for a few minutes now. From what little he knew of Akio, his new first mate would probably say it was the winds of fate calling to him.

Whatever it was, Ean had a bad feeling, and if he had learned anything in his history, following his particular line of work, it was that those bad feelings always turned out right. "Human Instinct, Akio, that's the trump card." He whispered in the recesses of his mind.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Draco of the Shadows Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Both hooded men with diaphanous dusty faces turned at nearly the same time to watch Akio leave. They hadn't the same intuition of mankind as being ministers of psionic architecture required a great deal of mental concordance. Instead they paid attention to humans alert yet when dangers were not readily apparent. A human acolyte of Umbralkind particularly drew attention when their concern was not the Jinhai.

Akio might hear soft boneless footfalls of the Jinhai of least distinctiveness that turned to follow him. Hums remained in the murk of the Jinhai's detailed but very near-sighted inspection of reality. Dusty microscopic pincered motes idle in flows from one place to another gathering minute awareness of nearby shadow. Their individual shadows the clear presence of a roiling crowd. Halting in aggregate if not in minutae only when Akio stopped and remained at short distance saying nothing. Grey emotionless glow of its four projected eyes move independently to look about at people and structures as the only detail to its face. Inside its internal mass several loci crystals passed in its arm to exchange creation for destruction if it was required. It looked into the distance a moment to look for the Mada of Plinth distinctiveness. Warm rays from her censer slowly immolating disorder from shadow shot through like a dark sun. Jinhai was merely aware being denied a human sense of warmth to be strong against taint but burning it out took one who truly understood.

The other Jinhai didn't move closer to Ean as much as it drifted forward while miming the movements. Its placid voice noisy like it were pushed through a sandstorm, "We require the movement of Myrkul's capital to another location. Known Cryo, to Mankind. Nonspirited physicality of goods is a stress upon the Way and the destination is too desolate. Are you capable of defending against Demonkind, Mankind? Cognizance crystals in scale will attract the burning eye."

One side of oval grey eyes looked sideways to where the censer burned belonging to Mada of Plinth distinctiveness, "A handler arrives here shortly to protect their purity along the journey. In this task none of the crystals may meet bare hands of Mankind. What is your price, Mankind?"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Draco of the Shadows Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: The Emperor Of Mankind Character Portrait: Commisar Ciaphas Cain Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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Draco's head twitched to the side as he sensed someone within the shadows, watching his now infected victims spread this corruption like a plague among the people of the city business district. He smiled and sipped at his water. He waited until they were watching the woman trying to seduce her conversational partner, and as he looked deeper into the energy transfer, all he would see before him is blackness, and two glowing eyes; coals from the pits of hell itself. And a single word:

"Drot."

Would come crashing through his consciousness. The word didn't mean anything of value; only "Boy", but none but Draco would know, or perhaps care. The Dragon pulled back through the shadows and severed Akio's connection to them at the same time, the shadows at their feet shimmering like a pond disturbed by a stone. By now, half of the people in the entire business district were infected with Draco's corruption. He let out a devilish smile, and snapped his fingers.

Anyone infected would immediately begin to convulse on the spot, dry heaving as the corruption spread further, single lines going from their necks where it originally stopped, and moving to their eyes, filling their normally flourishing orbs of life with black. Then they would begin screaming, then they'd collapse. All of this would likely cause people surrounding them to surround them in a circle and see what was wrong, ambulances were called, as were the Wing City Police, however Draco snapped his fingers again; and most forms of civilian communication from the outside world were cut off immediately. Power cut out, cars shut down, lights went out, and the fountains and other attractions shut down.

The business District dropped off the map.

Then it began. The people who were infected began to attack whatever was around them with whatever they could. Physical contact would spread the corruption at a much faster rate than before, and all hell broke loose. Civilians killed cops, cops killed civilians, civilians killed civilians, and even Guardsmen killed, as Draco had made perfectly clear that he wanted them infected as well.

The Legion of Shadow was not present, but their king was. As was his little Militia.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Draco of the Shadows Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: The Emperor Of Mankind Character Portrait: Commisar Ciaphas Cain Character Portrait: Ean Falcor

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"Alright, that finishes this building. Another 64 buildings to go along with a bunch of streets and we should be finished with the repairs...Well lets get a...Hold on, what in the name of the Emperor?" The guardsman started as he looked across the street. They watched as a group of people on the other side of the street began to convulse before falling down. They knew this was not normal, they seen enough hell to know large amounts of people did not just do that naturally.

The second they fell and got back up, they began to scream then they began to attack. "Damnation! Vox command! We got another situation in our hands!" The first guardsman yelled as he drew his las-gun and began to open fire on the 'infected' civilians. Being unarmed the infected civilians had massive holes blown up in them from a single shot. Limbs began to fly off, and they kept of shooting until whatever that person was dead.

"Command! Comand this is 4'th Company do you read! Command! By the Emperor communications are down! Regroup with 3'rd and 2'nd Company! Reinforcements will arrive when they spot this from orbit!" The guardsman voxing command cursed as he drew his own weapon and the two quickly retreated from the scene to avoid the area.

Gunfire erupted on the streets, Guardsman shooting civilians, cops, and eachother. There was no way Imperial command would ignore an area going dark. Even without the call. mechanized companies were already mobilized and began to block off streets and roads to prevent anyone from going in...or out...

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Draco of the Shadows Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: The Emperor Of Mankind Character Portrait: Commisar Ciaphas Cain Character Portrait: Ean Falcor Character Portrait: Mada 'Plinth' Myrkul

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Drot.

The word flashed in front of his vision so suddenly and vividly, it actually caused the typically calm and cool Akio to take a step back in confusion. Instinct took over, and he immediately began to search for an origin point. But before he could, the connection cut off and Akio found himself staring at humans again, no longer shadows. He'd been kicked out of the realm only he'd been known to penetrate.

And that was not good.

"Damn," he muttered as he took in his surroundings once more...and hardened his eyes at what he saw. The seducer was now using her nails to dig into the man's flesh while the man was throwing punches left and right. A man to their right had his knife out and was chasing another, who had a cut on his cheek and terror in his eyes. A cop had puleld out his pistol and proceeded to gun down innocents. And the more he scanned around him, the more violence he saw...the more blood shed. Immediately, he pulled his Ancestral Blade and held it poised in front of him.

He may not have the shadows as guidance for now, but he did have another power.


"Kako no sosen watashi o kurayami ni michibiku.
Anata no chikara o watashi ni kashite, watashi no teki o sore de korosu kamo shirenai."


The moment the final words of the incantation passed through his lips, the blade began to glow. And just in time too. An "infected" Guardsman had taken notice of Akio and was bringing his spear to strike him down. Akio parried the blow and countered with a quick slice to the throat, the armor doing nothing to prevent the metal from striking through it. The Guardsman collapsed and Akio moved on.

Sorry...

His attention was on the blade, which he noticed with each passing step was getting dimmer. He kept the blade in front of him, turning his body left. The blade grew brighter and brighter until it peaked after 60 degrees of turning. Akio lowered his sight on the blade and saw the man. Unlike other antagonists Akio had come across, where he had to discover context clues and sometimes dive into the shadows to figure out their true intentions, this man had shadows written all over him. If it weren't for his manner of reaction to the situation or his darkened appearance, it was his smile that gave him away. Mischievous...brutal...merciless...

All the things Akio loved to undermine and bring an ironic fate upon.

With a deep glare, the Wanderer made his way towards the man, sword held out crossed in front of him. He wasn't going to take an offensive stance...not yet. Anyone who could control the shadows better than he could was a dangerous foe.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Draco of the Shadows Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: The Emperor Of Mankind Character Portrait: Commisar Ciaphas Cain Character Portrait: Ean Falcor Character Portrait: Mada 'Plinth' Myrkul

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Chaos erupted all around as civilians and armed persons alike began assaulting each other without warning or reason. As a man lunged at Ean he moved swift and with an ease that betrayed his practiced hands. Two blasts were fired from his charge pistol before anyone bearing witness had even realized he had pulled it.

He turned to Jinhai then and said "Unfortunately, it seems you gentlemen will be getting a demonstration first hand of the sort of skills me and my crew are known for. Stay close at hand if you would." Before flipping the barrel of his pistol, and striking at the charging ring with his palm, setting it spinning rapidly. In this manner he pulled the trigger and swung wide with the weapon, unleashing a flare of weak electrified plasma, strong enough only to disable the auxiliary nervous system of those who were struck by it.

As he continued to unleash blast after blast, he pulled a communications device from his pocket and fit it over his ear. As soon as it was on he began issuing commands to his ship. "Emily you need to get the Glaive up in the air and over to my position pronto."

On the other end of the line Emily began frantically issuing commands. "Sir, were not able to get up at the moment were still fueling and refitting, whats going on."

"I need backup right now Emily, some sort of riot or mass madness is hitting the civilians, they're going nuts."

"Best I can do is send a transports loaded with our boys out to you, maybe a few warlocks and shamans but those will take more time."

"I'll take whatever I can get, just get it here now"

"Sir, do you want me to send your gear"

Ean visibly winced at that, and shook his head before realizing she couldn't see him. "No, no... That won't be necessary, just send the guys."

After ending the conversation, The Captain began checking the crowd for Akio, not wanting to lose his first mate so soon after getting him. He spied The Wanderer wielding a sword and cutting down armed individuals who attacked him. Ean shouted at him "Back of the blade Akio! Do not kill unarmed people! Strike them with the back of your blade!"

Saying so was all well and good, but Ean was concerned as he noticed the nature of what was going on. He watched as a man assaulted another, who tried to run in fear, but after the assault the victim became enraged and began to attack of his own volition as well. "Madness of Chaos" The Captain muttered, once again blasting the rioters with his charge pistol.

Meanwhile, Aboard the Cobalt Glaive
Immediately following her conversation with the captain, Emily had scrambled two full transports of Imps, The Blue Glaives on board mercenary group. It took them minutes to grab their gear and get aboard, and the pilots transporting them expected to be over the site in fifteen. The head of the Platoon, Franklin Gord'ga, was a Thilui, a sentient bipedal species evolved from predatory pack creatures that lived on a planet far from it's sun. He stood at six eight, though that height was inaccurate do to his species humped backs. Quills on his back shivered as he spoke to his men. "Were going to be burning in at about fifteen thousand feet, as the locals have a quarantine to the area." He paused to breath, making a sound like a snake hissing. "We do not have much information. What we do know is that the Captain is on site, and he's calling for backup."

The entire platoon perked up at that. They all knew that if the Captain wouldn't ask for backup unless he was completely outnumbered, which meant for them that they would be dropping into a fight.

Franklin continued after taking another hissing breath "We're going in with standard weaponry, however there are civilians mixed with armed personnel, so watch your fire. The Captain also mentioned something about mass hysteria, and the civilians going nuts. Chances are there will be unarmed people coming at you, so if you can try not to hurt them to bad. We don't want to give this city any reason not to invite us back, got it."

"We got it, sir" Came the chorus of a reply.

Franklin hissed and nodded "Drop in five, get in gear."

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Draco of the Shadows Character Portrait: Akio the Wanderer Character Portrait: Jinhai Character Portrait: The Emperor Of Mankind Character Portrait: Legion of Shadows Character Portrait: Commisar Ciaphas Cain Character Portrait: Ean Falcor Character Portrait: Mada 'Plinth' Myrkul

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Draco remained calm and collected the whole time, sipping from his water. He was not phased nor moved by the charges of the pistol fired at him, in fact they left no mark upon his person. His water remained in his hand and the glass did not break. The Rioters had a sort of....aversion to him, in the sense that the just didn't go near him.

As Akio lowered the sword in front of him, he didn't even look to the blade, and only paused for a moment before drinking, downing the last of his water and setting his cup on the blade itself.

"You are gifted, boy, in the ways of the Shadows. But your gifts will not save nor hide you from me." it was not the body of Draco that spoke, but the shadow of Akio that did so, using Draco's distorted, Ethereal voice echoed by millions of screams of terror and agony. Finally the man stood, and at his full height at over ten feet tall, he dwarfed the man holding a sword to him. Scales danced across his skin, thick and ancient, they would not be broken by some simple sword.

Finally, the man turned his eyes to stare upon Akio, coal-red eyes taking in the boy's form with indignation and distaste. "Ask yourself if this is something you really wish to be involved in." he paused for a moment before his coat fell away to reveal his swept back Draconian Armor, gleaming in the light of the city as his two swords descended from his gauntlets and into his hands, gripping the hilts tightly with the claws of his gauntlet. A low hum was emanating from the black jagged blades as Draconian lightning coursed through them. Draco then spoke finally from his own mouth, and his voice rumbled with malice.

"Answer me!


With that, the Legion made its appearance. From every Shadow available, Hounds, and Slashers crawled forth to attack whatever they could, knawing on legs, slashing throats, and screaming in agony all the same. From alleyways, Battalions of Bashers in Roman Cohort-syle armor and shield marched, spreading out and blocking off all entrances and exits in a double sided Phalanx while the Watchers likewise cut off all exits, and began to shroud the whole district in Darkness.

The hounds were nothing special. They were merely random assortments of limbs from various creatures hurled together so that it would be able to move on its own. There were actual canines as well, but they were few in number, and hunted in packs of up to twenty, agile and quick, the Wolf-sized visual disasters raced around and attacked any in their path.

Slashers were long and slender, and moved as if they had very little muscle control over their heavier limbs such as their heads, which flopped around lazily while their other limbs flopped around, the sounds of bone and muscle tearing easily audible as they screamed in agony and attacked the nearest person not "conscripted" into the Legion.

As each body fell, their Shadows began to boil and twist and turn, small tendrils erupted from their shadows and began to drag their bodies down into the dark abyss. Their body would be broken down, their soul tortured, and their minds broken as they were conscripted into the legion of Shadows.

Draco didn't even blink.

His last attack on the city was only a single plaza. Despite how large said plaza was, it was only one. This attack dwarfed the other one; as lo and behold: He attacked an entire district of the city at once, and without mercy. Even within buildings the members of the Shadow Legion penetrated and struck down their prey. They didn't try and open safes or vaults, Draco had no interest in the petty currency of Man, they only did what they were told: Kill.

Draco's swords cackled as he snarled in Akio's face, his left hand bringing the same side sword up to smack the boy's blade away while his right hand raised to slash across Akio's body. Draco's own body weight would make blocking nigh impossible, after all, he was a Kaiju sized Dragon in human form. He could weigh whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. His sword was electrified with Draconian Lightning, making the edges sharper than one could ever hope to achieve with mere mortal magic, making parrying, likewise nigh impossible.

Bringing up his foot after his strike, he would aim to push kick Akio back, the force behind the kick would likely send him back upwards of fifty feet back if it connected cleanly. Internal damage was also very likely, as ribs at the very least bruised, and at worst, shattered entirely.

"You will come to Kneel before the Shadow King, or you will fall like the rest, and be brought to heel regardless."